Comments on: CarAdvice College – Part One: Changing a Flat Tyre

By: CarZ

CarZ — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:25:07 +0000

You have to always shake the car to make sure the jack can hold the weight. I would never go under a car with out that precaution. Another would be to make sure a flat tire or another buffer is under to if it does fall it gets caught by something.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:32:21 +0000

^^^
And good to see the tyres chocked too as recommended.

Most of the time I have a compressor in tow behind my car.
Last time i picked up a screw I just topped it up before I left in the morning, and again before I left work which got me to Bob Jane no probs.
Plus I didnt have to tarnish the image by having a black spare among the alloys.

Frontman makes a good point if you put aftermarket alloys on in making sure you keep nuts for the spare if they are different.
Also to note further to that, sometimes the factory tyre iron wont fit inside the recess for the mag nuts.

I got caught out once where the alloys fitted had a nut recess that was too small to get the factory tyre iron in.
I then sourced a cross brace which had thinner walls than the factory one.

Luckily I found out when I tried to do a rotation and wheel clean

By: FrugalOne

FrugalOne — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:41:05 +0000

Errr is that photo done on purpose to prove a point?The guys has his legs under the car, NOT a good thing to do when its held up with a cheap nasty jack that car-co’s supply.

Perhaps if all cars where fitted with run-flat types, TONS of rubber would be saved each year as would fuel and less pollution.

Maybe its the future?

Cheers

F-0

By: Kezza

Kezza — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:09:49 +0000

I hate to rat you out considering what you’re trying to achieve here is a good thing, but… You do show someone who looks like they’re still under a jacked-up car, without the sapre wheel under the sill (under the bumper isn’t going to help if the car falls) and at no stage should you sit while lifting the wheel or tightening the wheel nuts, it’s murder for your back.

By: riceboy

riceboy — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:39:40 +0000

Good feedback from this article… I have to admit I’ve called out RACV to change a tyre and a battery on different occasions because I couldn’t be bothered… My car must’ve had a slow leak overnight and I found it flat in the garage… I know how to change a flat too…

By: Cupid Stunt aka No Name

Cupid Stunt aka No Name — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:47:22 +0000

Over here you are encouraged not to change on the roadside yourself due to the danger involved, but to call the recovery bods who’ll position themselves to lessen the chance of getting run over.
Sound advice SamR – better to get away from the roadside is possible. All about minimising the risk.
By the way folks anyone travelling in France, should you get here, you MUST carry a High Viz vest in the car, one each for all occupants. If its in the boot/trunk you’ll get fined. Seems the Frog cops are pulling Brits over and imposing fines without actually telling anyone of the new law.

By: Pablo

Pablo — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:56:20 +0000

Step 1 should be stop reading this NOW & go out to your car to check that the spare tyre is still inflated for when you need it.

By: RoFlmaTiC

RoFlmaTiC — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:19:43 +0000

mmm I didn’t realise they were so cheap SamR! I might do the same thing. Means I don’t need to check my tyre pressures at the servo :D

By: SamR

SamR — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:17:55 +0000

For the last few years I have been doing it differently for flats and I like it much better.

I purchased a $15 electric tire pump from Supercheap and put it in the boot.

When I notice a flat and I am not far from a tire place (which is most of the time) I just pump up the tire and drive to the nearest tire place.

Almost all my flats have been very slow leaks from nails which respond well to this.

By: laurie

laurie — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:35:09 +0000

I think you should get people to know how to drive first before they learn to change tyres most must be getting their license from a packet of Rice Bubbles!!

laurie

By: spiderman

spiderman — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:54:17 +0000

Mmmm so you are showing us how to change a tyre safely, yet YOU have your left leg beneath the car in the photo!!!! Amazing

By: Iz

Iz — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:34:14 +0000

One thing that I’d add is, know what to do with anti-theft bolts!

May not be the biggest deal, but a lot of cars are coming equipped with em now-a-days.

Also, a good thing to note is that most cars come with a toolkit which includes all the tools you’d need for most roadside issues such as a flat.

(and if you do have anti-theft bolts, don’t lose the attachment for them for your tire iron!)

By: Frontman

Frontman — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:54:48 +0000

RoFlmaTiC Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

Old saying but real meaning of NRMA????
No Real Mechanics Available…

By: RoFlmaTiC

RoFlmaTiC — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:05:06 +0000

The people who get call outs to change tyres probably don’t know where the jack is located in their car :-p

By: BJ

BJ — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:45:50 +0000

HSV,
I think you will find that it is an HRT Jacket, NOT an ‘HSV’ Jacket!!!!!

By: Frontman

Frontman — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:41:02 +0000

The biggest thing I’d like to push (because I knew someone it happened to) even if you have to drive slowly on your flat tyre to get somewhere safe,

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE WELL CLEAR OF THE ROAD.

B doubles move a lot of air on highways and you will get sucked under the truck. A new tyre is much less costly..

Also, a little tip. If you buy 4 mags for you car and keep the steely as a spare, either make sure you keep original wheel nuts or that the mag nuts will work with the steely.

By: driver

driver — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:52:15 +0000

^ just read acfsambo’s post – good point!

By: driver

driver — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:51:05 +0000

STEP 4 – also note that the tyre taken off should be placed side-on beneath the car – this is a major safety step. if the jack fails or the car slides of the jack – then it will land on the tyre (leaving some clearance) instead of falling all the way to the ground; potentially crushing a limb of the person changing the wheel.

By: Camski

Camski — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:43:49 +0000

HSV – Nice LS460 =P

Agree with everything that’s been said. Look another tip, when jacking up 4WD’s, the jack goes under the axle. I say this because I know family members that went overseas and took a 4WD out into a national park/game reserve and they aren’t stupid, yet they couldn’t work out how to jack up the car high enough to change the wheel (4WD’s have a LOT of wheel travel [ie. jacking up the car means the wheel will drop back down]). This meant being stranded in the rain trying to figure it out, and out in the middle of no where, they were lucky to find some help. Don’t put yourself in this position.

It’s probably something we should all know given that a lot of us will hire a 4WD at some stage as for example to head out and see some of Australia’s nicest natural attractions which require some offroading.

By: Matty B

Matty B — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:28:14 +0000

I think the biggest tip is to keep all body parts clear of underneath the car. There’s no need to be sitting down underneath it anyway.